Dough feeding appliance and the like



' 1934- c. E. CARPENTER 8 DOUGH FEEDING APPLIANCE AND THE LIKE Original Filed Jan. 3, 1927 3 Sheet -sh et; 1

Aug. 7, 1934- c. E. CARPENTER DOUGH FEEDING APPLIANCE AND THE LIKE 5 SheetS Sheet 2 Original Filed Jan. 3, 1927 1934- k c. E. CARPENTER 1,968,808

DOUGH FEEDING'APPLIANCE AND THE LIKE Original Filed Jan. 5. 1927 3 Sheets-sh et, 3

Gay/a Patented Aug. 1, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE $68,808 DOUGH FEEDING APPLIANCE AND THE LIKE Charles E. Carpenter, Chicago, I11. I L

Application January 3, 1921, Serial No. 158,615 Renewed August 15, 1933 1'0 Claims. o1. 101-14) The present invention has to do with an imvide a construction whereby it is possible to deproved hopper and feeding device for delivering liver batches ofvarious uniformsizes froma given batches of dough. The construction herein dishopper by merely substituting new operating closed is especially intended for the foregoing sleeves from time to time, said sleeves being of I purpose in connection with machines for manuuniform external diameter but of different intera facturing doughnuts and other food articles. nal diameter according to the sizes of the dough The features of the invention are well adapted batches which they are intended to deliver. for use in connection with many kinds of cooking Other objects and uses ,of the invention will devices; and although the construction hereinappear froma detailed description of the same .10 disclosed is especially intended for the cooking which consists in the features of construction and of doughnuts still I do not intend to limit the combinations of parts hereinafter described and usefulness thereof except as I may do so in the claimed. claims. In the drawings:

In the dough feeding operation the dough must Figure 1 shows a vertical elevation through a be delivered in relatively small batches of subhopper provided with a simple construction of 7 stantially uniform size; These batches are demechanism embodying the features of the preslivered in the first instance from a suitable hopper ent invention; which contains a relatively'large amount of the Fig.2 shows a fragmentary vertical section raw dough. The dough batches are delivered through the lower portion of the hopper having through a suitable orifice and the construction applied thereto the feeding mechanism of the should be' such as to cut oil the batches at the present invention, the latter being shown in its proper time in the delivering operation. initial position, and this figure also showing dia-v The dough is relatively stiff and will not flow grammatically the general shape of the cams for except under the application of suitable force. actuating the parts in proper timed sequence;

v1 In one type of construction with which I am fa- Fig. 3 shows a view similar to that of Fig. 2 80 miliar for the feeding of dough batches in the with the exception that the plunger has been manufacture of doughnuts a suitable airpressure raised up within the sleeve so as to create a suc'- is applied within the hopper which holds the tion and draw in a fresh batch of dough; dough supply, and upon opening the proper valve Fig. 4 shows a view similar to that of Figs. 2

device the dough is forced out by this pressure. and 3 with the exception that the sleeve and valve 85 The useofair pressure involves complication of. have both been lowered, thereby sealing of! the structure and arrangement which are undesirable, dough batch and isolating the same andat the besides increasing the cost of construction and same time opening the valve, the plunger being operation of the machine and entailing the use lowered so as to force the dough batch out from of additional mechanisms for supplying the comthe sleeve;

' pressed air. 1 Fig. 5 shows a view similar to that of Fig. 4 with One of the objects of the invention is to prothe exception that the sleeve and valve have both vide a dough feeding mechanism of such conbeen raised to their initial position, but the struction and arrangement that the new charge plunger has not yet been raised, and the plunger of dough will be drawn into the feeding mechawill be raised-during the next operation to the 95 nism by a positive suction action, thus insuring position illustrated in Fig. 2-; the localization of a full charge of the dough but Fig. 6 shows a viewaimilar to that of Fig, 1 but without the complications attendant upon the use illustrates a modified type of construction in of compressed air to actually force out the dough. which there is provided a removable throat or Another object of the invention in connection spout for the lower end of the hopper, so that 100 with the foregoing is to provide means for poslthroats or spouts of different internal diameters tively dis har in he d fin t amount or batch can be substituted from time to'ti-me in order to t of dough localized by the suction mechanism as provide for the delivery of dough batches of difhereinafter explained. V ferent sizes; and f Another object of the invention is to provide -a Fig; '1 shows a fragmentary cross section on 105 very simple form of operating mechanism for the-line 71- 7 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction positively actuating the various parts so as to inof the arrows. sure their movements in the proper sequence and Referring first to Fig. 1, the hopper is desigin proper timed relationship. nated in its entirety by the numeral 8. It pref- Still a further object of the inventionisto pro-i erably has a tapered bottom 9 and is suitably no supported by a bracket 10. A removable cover 11 is provided through which the dough can be introduced into the hopper, or the hopper can be cleaned. I 6 A spout or throat 12 is located at the lower central portion of the hopper, the same having an internal diameter 13 corresponding to the general size of the dough batch to be delivered.

In the cover 11 is located a collar 14 and a vertical hollow sleeve 15 slides up and down in said collar 14. The lower end the lower end of the hopper and the internal diameter of the sleeve is preferably the same as the when the sleeve is lowered into the position of Fig. 4 the parts will come into perfect alignment. Reaching down through the sleeve 15 is another sleeve 17 to the lower end of which is-con-- nected a plunger or the like 18. This plunger is of any convenient form including for example a cup leather by means of which a definite air seal is established dur normal movements of the plunger within the sleeve 15. Preferably this cup leather faces upwards as shown. in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive since the stroke.

The plunger 18 is provided with a substantially. long skirt so that said plunger can override the lower end 16 of the sleeve 15 without disengagement of the plunger from the sleeve. I Within the sleeve 17 there 19 to the lower end of which is connected a disk valve 20. when said pin l9 is 'raised into the position of Fig. 1 said disk valve 20 closes the lower end of the neck or throat 12, and by lower- -ingthepinl9thevalveisopen The pin 19 and sleeve 15 are connected together and operate as a unit. This connection is established bymeans of a cross pin 21 reaching from the sleeve 15 and through the upper end'of the pin 19. For this purpose the sleeve 17 is slotted as shown at 22 and 23 inFlg. 1. Thus the sleeve 17 with its plunger 18 on the one part can be moved up and down through a substantial versleeve 15 on the other part, the amount of this cient for purposes of operation.

and 26 to the upper ends of the brackets 27 and 28.v This'shaft 24 carries a pair of disks 29 and 30. The inner faces of these disks are provided with cam grooves receiving acrosspin 31 con nected to the upper end of the sleeve 17, and the outside faces of the disks 29 and receive the pins'32 and 33 onthe upper ends of arms 34 and 35 whichare connected to the upper end of the sleeve 15." As a result the movements of thesleeve 15 andthe valve 20 on the one part can and the movements of the sleeve 17 and'plunger 18 on the other part can be controlled properly and as another unit by the inside cam faces.-

Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 illustrate cam'constructions which are capable of producing the desired results; and in these diagrammatic viewsthe pin and slot connection 21, 22 and 23 is shown near the lower end of the sleeve 15 instead of near its upper end, simply by way of convenience and illustration. w

The cams are intended to rotate inthe direction of the arrows shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The pin 33 for theoutside sleeve 15 works in a side face cam 36, and the pin 31 for thesleeve 17 works in 16 of the sle'eve'15 is" preferably tapered or suitably'formed to set into internal size 13 of the neck or throat 12 sothat but during this upward stroke is the suction works ,a vertical pin tical distance independently of the 'pin 19 and A cross shaft 24 is Journaled at the points 25'' be controlled by the outside cam faces as a unit a side face cam 37. It will be noted that continuing the movement from the position of Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 3, the pin 31 is traveling in a concentric section of the cam. and therefore in a dwell, thus holding the sleeve 15 and valve 20 in the fixed raised position. However during this constantly diminishing radius thus raising the plunger 18 from the position of Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 3.

Directly after the position of Fig. 3 is passed both of the pins 31 and 33 enter cam sections of constantly increasing radius, but the cam section for the pin 31 increases in radius much more rapidly than the other so that by the time the position of Fig. 4 is reached the plunger 18 has been forced all the way down, while the sleeve l5-has only been forced down far enough to engage the bottom of the hopper.

In passing from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 5, the pin 31 has been traveling in a circular cam section or dwell so that the plunger isretained in the lowermost position; interval the pin 33 has been traveling in a cam section of diminishing radius so that the sleeve. 15 and valve 20 are raised.

In passing from the position of Fig. 5 back to that of Fig. l, the parts are again restored due to the shape of the cam grooves.

- For purposes of convenience and illustration I have shown a grease bath 38 beneath the position of the hopper and adapted to receive the dough batches so as to fry the doughnuts. This grease bath may be heated in any convenient manner as by means of a heating element 39 imbedded llil in its bottom surface- The construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 differs from that already described, primarily in the fact that the neck or throat at the lower end of the hopper isremovable so that a neck orv throat 'having'a different internal diameter can be substituted. For this purpose I have shown a sleeve 40 threaded up through the flange 41 in the lower portion of the hopper. This sleeve 40 itself reaches up some distance acts as a guide for the sleeve 15. the sleeve 40 inside of the hopper is provided with a series of relatively large openings 42, sepa' rated by relatively small vertical partitions 43 so that on the suction stroke of the plunger the v dough can be readily drawn through said opening. 3 The upper portion of the sleeve 15, sleeve 17, and pin .19, are removably connected to pins 44 and 45 which are in turn actuated by the camsaforesaid so that by disconnecting these parts 133 the entire dough feeding valve mechanism can' be removedfrom the hopper as a unit. when this is done another sleeve 40 of different internal diameter can be substituted, and at the same time suitable new valve mechanism may be sub- 135 stituted so that the size of the dough batches can be readily changed without other changes in the machine. I I

' While I have herein shown and described only. certain embodiments of the features of my presexit invention, still I do not intend to limit myself to the same except as I may do so in the claims.

'I claim:

1. A machine for feeding batches of dough and similar material, comprising in combination a1 x s saw suction plunger in the lower portion of said sleeve,

said plunger having a relatively long skirt reaching up into the sleeve, a valve for the lower open end of the threat, a common connection ioining together the valve and the sleeve to cause them to reciprocateverticaily in unison, and operating means for moving the plunger and for moving the valve and sleeve vertically, eifectively to first raise the plunger, withinjthe sleeve to thereby in lowered position, to therebycut oil and perforate the delivered dough batch, substantially as described. i i

2. A machine for feeding batches of dough and similar material comprising in combination a hopper'for said material having at its lower end stantially as described.

a discharge throat through which the batches of material are discharged, a vertically movable,

sleeve withinthehopper having its lowerend adapted to engage the hopper around the position of said throat, said sleeve having an internal diameter approximately the same as that of the throat, a plunger working within the sleeve and having a relatively long skirt, a valve for the lower open end of the throat, and means for reciprocating the sleeve, plunger, and valve in timed relationship, to thereby raise the plunger within the sleeve while retaining the sleeve in raised position above the floor of the hopper, to thereby draw a fresh batch of dough into the sleeve, thereafter lowering the sleeve .into engagement with the hopper at the position of the throat 'and lower the valve. into'open position; thereafter moving the plunger downwards in the sleeve to discharge'the batch of dough through the throat, and thereafter raising the sleeve and valve while retaining the plunger in the lowered position sub- 3. A machine for feeding batches of dough or similar material comprising in combination 'a hopper for the material, a' discharge throat at the lower end of said hopper, a vertically movable sleeve within the hopper, adapted to engage the floor 'of the hopper at the position of the throat, a suction plunger within the lower portion of the sleeve having a relatively long skirtreaching upwards into the sleeve, and a vertically reciprocating valve for the lower end of thethroat, to-

gether with'means for positively reciprocating all of said parts including said valve vertically and in timed relationship, to thereby firstv draw 1' a bateh of dough up into the lower end of the sleeve, by suction, thereafter delivering said batch ofdough downwardly through the throat, and' thereafter cut oil and perforate said batch upon delivery from the throat, substantially as described.

4. A machine for feeding batches of dough or similar material comprising in combination a hopper having in its lower central portion a disth cylinder with said dough batch to the deuVr ery opening, and means for forcing out the plunger and simultaneously moving the valve to open position to thereby deliver the batch of dough from the cylinder through the v i s, substantially as described.

- 5. In a doughnut machine: a dough hopper; a

dough chamber provided with an inlet which communicates with said hopper through a lateral opening gate means for closing said lateral opening, said chamber being provided also with a bottom outlet opening; and a plunger member disposed in said outlet opening and adapted to reciprocate relatively thereto,- -said outlet plunger member being movable by means comprising a rod which upwardlyproiects-fromsaid dough chamber. r i

6. In a doughnut machine:' a dough hopper; a dough chamber provided with an inlet which communicates with said hopper through a lateral opening, gate means for closing said lateral opening, said chamber, being provided also with a bottom outlet opening; and a lower plunger member disposed in said outlet opening and adapted to reciprocate relatively thereto,-said dough cham-i through which extends a lower plunger-operatingrod.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a dough hopper having a downwardly extending delivery throat in its lower portion, a stationary sleeve extending upwardly within the hopper in alignment with the throat aforesaid and saidsleeve having its lower end spaced above the upper end of the throat to permit entry of dough from the hopper into the throat during the proper operation, a valve member working in alignment with and to a point below the lower end of the throat. an operating rod extending from said valve member upwardly through the sleeve aforesaid, a plunger member working in alignment with and to a point above the upper end of the throat and into the sleeve aforesaid, and operating means for said plunger member extending upwardly through the sleeve aforesaid, the plunger member having a vertical dimension suflicient to overlap the lower end of the sleeve aforesaid when the plunger member is at its lowermost position of movement and having a size such as to maintain sealing engagement with the member surrounding said plunger member at all times, whereby the upper end of the plunger member never communicates direct- 1y with the dough within the hopper nor receives dough on its upper end face, substantially as described.

8. .In a machine of the class described, the combination of a dough hopper having a downwardly extending delivery throat in its lower portion, a sleeve extending upwardly within the hopper in alignment with the throat aforesaid and said sleeve having its lower end spaced at times above the upper end of the throat to permit entry of dough from the hopper into the throat during the proper operation, a valve member working-in alignment with-and to a point below the lower end of the throat, an operating rod extending from said valve member upwardly through the sleeve aforesaid, a plunger memher working inalignment with and to a point above' the upper end of the throat and into the sleeve aforesaid, operating means for said valve member and said plunger member extending upwardly through'the sleeve and serving to operate said parts in proper harmony, and the plunger member havinga vertical dimension suflicient to overlap the lower end of the sleeve aforesaid when the plunger member is at its lowermost position of movement and having a size such as to maintain sealing engagement with the member surrounding said plunger member at all times, whereby the upper end of the plunger member never communicates directly with the dough within the hopper nor receives dough on its upper end face, substantially as described.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a dough hopper having a downwardly extending delivery throat in its lower portion, a sleeve extending upwardly within the hopper in alignment with the throat aforesaid and said sleeve having its lower end spaced at times above the upper end of the throat to permit entry of dough from the hopper into the throat during the proper operation, a valve member working in alignment with and tea point below the lower end of the throat, an operating connection extending from said valve member upwardly through the sleeve aforesaid, a plunger member working in alignment with and to a point above the upper end of the throat and into the sleeve aforesaid, operating connections for said plunger member extending upwardly through the sleeve aforesaid, and the plunger member having parts working in sealing engagement'with the sleeve aforesaid during the entire range of movement of the plunger member, whereby the upper end of the plunger member never communicates directly with the dough within the hopper nor receives dough on its upper end face, substantially as described.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a dough hopper, a downwardly extending delivery throat, a stationary sleeve, said sleeve having its lower end spaced above the upper end of the throat to permit entry of dough from the hopper into the throat during the proper operation, a valve member working in alignment with and to a point below the lower end of the throat, an operating rod extending from said valve member upwardly through the sleeve aforesaid, a plunger member working in alignment with and to a point above the upper end of the throat and into the sleeve aforesaid, and operating means for said plunger member extending upwardly through the sleeve aforesaid, the plunger member having'a vertical di mension suflicient to overlap the lower end of the sleeve'aforesaid when the plunger member is at its lowermost position of movement and having a size such as to maintain sealing engage-' ment with the member surrounding said plunger member at all times, whereby the upper end of the plunger member never communicates directly with the dough within the hopper nor receives dough on its upper face, substantially as described.

CHARLES E. CARPENTER. 

